Vehicle torsion bar individual wheel suspension



28, 1948. H. c. M CASLIN 294579533 VEHICLE TORSION BAR INDIVIDUAL WHEEL SUSPENSION Filed on. 24, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. #6727 C //c Caslrin fiTTOPA/E/S ea, 2, 1948. H. c. McCASLIN 2,457,583

VEHICLE TORSION BAR INDIVIDUAL WHEEL SUSPENSIQN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 24, 1946 INVENTOR. H ry 6'. Na CasZzn.

HTTORNEKX E. 2%, 148. c, MOCASLIN 2,457,583

VEHICLE TORSION BAR INDIVIDUAL WHEEL SUSPENSION 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 24, 1946 INVENTOR. Henry 6'. Ma Ca5ZLn BY 1948. c, MQCASLIN 2,457,583

VEHICLE TORSION BARINDIVIDUAL WHEEL SUSPENSION Filed Oct. 2 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Henry C Na 6415 11in. BY

HTT'ORNE'I S Patented Dec. 28, 1948 VEHICLE TORSION BAR INDIVIDUAL WHEEL SUSPENSION Henry C. McCaalin, Dexter, Micln, asaignor, by

mesne assignments, to Kaiser-Frazer Corporation, Willow Run, Mich, a corporation of Nevada Application October 24, 1946, Serial No. 705,385

8 Claims. (Cl. 280-124) This invention relates generally to the art of motor vehicles, and more particularly, to independent wheel suspensions therefor.

'It is an object of this invention to provide an improved type of individual wheel suspension for a vehicle having a torsion bar.

It is a further object of this invention to Provide in a torsion bar type-independent wheel suspension 9. new type wheel mounting member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved individual wheel suspension having a torsion bar and improved means for adjusting the torsion bar so as to vary the spring value on said bar.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved suspension having a torsion bar for each wheel wherein the bars are so arranged and mounted as to simplify manufacture and assembly.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved type suspension wherein the torsion bars are disposed transversely of the vehicle.

It is a still further object of this inventio to provide a new type vehicle frame construction for mounting independent wheel suspensions thereon. I

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle frame with the suspension embodiment of this invention thereon;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section taken along the line 3-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view showing the connection on one side of the vehicle of the torsion bars to the frame;

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of the front endof the vehicle frame;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation view of the bushing which is connected to the fixed end of each torsion bar.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 6, it will be seen that the vehicle frame, generally indicated at I, in-

cludes a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending beams I and 9. Adjacent both the front and the rear ends of the longitudinal beams l and 9 are a pair of transverse tubular members II and I3 respectively. For the purposes of this invention the construction of the front and rear ends of the vehicle frame, and suspension system therefor may be considered identical, and any exceptions or differences between the two will be brought out. For purposes of simplicity therefore, the construction and arrangement of parts for the front end only will be described, and unless otherwise stated, the con-' struction of the rear end can be assumed to be identical.

The tubular transverse member II passes through an aperture l5 in the longitudinal beam 8 and an aperture IS in the longitudinal beam 9, and is rigidly secured to both the beams 8 and 9 such as by welding. It will be noted that the outer end of the tubular member H extends outwardly beyond both the longitudinal beams 8 and 5. A generally U-shaped mounting member [1, having forwardly extending legs i9 and 2| which are provided with apertures 22 therein receiving the tubular member II, is positioned on the outer end of the tubular member ll adjacent the longitudinal beam 8. The legs I9 and II are welded to the tubular member II, and the inner leg 2| is also welded to the longitudinal beam 8. In this way the mounting member I1 is rigidly secured to both the tubular member and to the longitudinal beam. A reinforcing U-shaped member 24 is fitted between the vertical plate or base 25 of the mounting member I! and the tubular member II. The member 24 likewise is generally U-shaped and its outer forwardly extending leg 21 iswelded to the inside edge of the leg 19 of the mounting member IS. The opposite forwardly extending leg 29 is positioned inwardly of the leg M of the bracket l8 and is welded to the tubular member H and extends only around a portion of its outer periphery.

Adjacent the inner edge of the longitudinal beam 8 and similarly secured thereto and to the tubular member H is a second U-shaped mounting member 3| which likewise has a reinforclng member 33 connected thereto. These members are identical to the members I 1 and 24 previously described for the opposite side of the longitudinal beam 8.

On the opposite side of the vehicle frame and adjacent the inner and outer edges of the longitudinal beam 8, similar mounting members and reinforcing members are provided. At the outer side of the longitudinal beam the mounting memher is indicated at and is provided with a reinforcing member 31, and adjacent the inner edge of the beam the mounting memberand reinforcing member are indicated at 38 and II.

A generally l-shaped bracket 43 having an integral vertical flange I thereon is secured to-the vertical face of the mounting member II by means of four bolts 41. A similarly shaped bracket 49 is likewise connected to the mounting member Si by means of bolts BI. On the opposite side of the vehicle frame, "a similarly shaped bracket 63 is secured to the mounting member 80 by means of bolts and outwardly of the iongitudinal beam 9 a fourth similarly shaped bracket 51 is secured to the mounting member III by means of bolts 58.

On one side of the vehicle frame I adjacent the beam 8 and secured to the brackets 40 and 49 by means which will be hereinafter described, is a, hollow wheel mounting member generally indicated at SI. On the opposite side of the vehiole frame adjacent the beam 8 and connected to the brackets 53 and 51 by means which will be hereinafter described, is a similar wheel mounting member 68. These two wheel mounting members 6i and 68 are identically constructed and therefore a, description of one will sumce for both. Each of the wheel mounting members BI and 03 comprises a longitudinally extending arm 85 which is formed to extend transversely of the frame at the rear end thereof to a wheel supporting knuckle 81 on the outer end thereof for mounting the vehicle wheel (not shown). Intermediate the ends of the arm an aperture 89 is provided to allow the wheel axle (not shown) to pass therethrough to drive the wheels. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the frame is designed for a, front wheel drive vehicle, but it will readily be apparent that this invention may be used on a vehicle employing either front or rear wheel drive. The opposite end of the longitudinal arm 65 has a transverse hollow housing portion 1i extending transversely on opposite sides of the arm 65.

The construction of the wheel mounting members for the front and for the rear are slightly different. This difference is that for the rear wheels the outer end of the longitudinal arm 65 is formed to extend transversely of the frame as at 18 and has a threaded spindle 15 and wheel mounting plate 11 on the end thereof. This results from the fact that the rear wheels are not the driving wheels and are not steerable so no knuckle 61, as on the front wheels, is necessary and no aperture is necessary for an axle to pass therethrough. The connection at the forward end of the rear longitudinal arms is identical with the front wheel mounting member and the same hollow housing portion H is provided thereon. Each of the wheel mounting members comprise two half shells and these are welded so as to form the hollow structure.

In order to provide a spring action between the vehicle frame 1 and the wheel mounting member low housing lid of the wheel mounting member tiandtheoppositeendthereofisflxedlysecured to the bracket 40 as will be hereinafter described. The outer end of the hollow housing portion 1| of 'the wheel mounting member 0| is; reduced in diameter and the wall is corrugated as at 81, as illustrated in Fig. 5. to mesh with the splines II on the end of the torsion bar 10 so as to provide a driving connection therebetween. The outer end of the housing portion 1Ia of the wheel mounting member 63 is similarly corrugated to cooperate with the splines 85 on the end of the torsion bar 88.

The bracket flange '45, as shown by Figs. 4,

with a vertical flange 81, as shown in Fig. 2,

which acts as a stop for a rubber bushing means 99 which flts snugly between the outer wall of the sleeve and the inner wall of the aperture 88 in the bracket. The outer end of the sleeve 95 is provided with two opposed horizontal flats 98 for a use which will be-hereinafter described. The

rubber bushingis held in place at its outer end by a spacer ring I00 which is held in abutting relation therewith by a washer IM and a lock nut I02 which is threaded on the end of the sleeve 95. The spacer ring I00 has a pair of opposed projections I03 and the washer has a similar pair of projections which fit the sleeve flats 98 to pre- 35 vent rotation of the spacer ring and washer when a outer periphery thereof which can be bent over 6| a transversely extending torsion bar 19 is provided, which has one end thereof splined as at 8| and supported in the outer end of the hollow housing portion H of the mounting member BI as illustrated in Fig. 2. The opposite end of the torsion bar is fixedly supported in the bracket 01 as will be hereinafter described. A second torsion arm 83 has one end thereof splined as at 85 and supported in the outer end of the holthe nut I02 toiock the nut to the washer.

The second aperture Si in the bracket flange 45 is adapted to receive the opposite end of the other torsion bar 83. This end of the torsion bar 83 is splined as at I 05 and abushing I01 is inserted in the aperture and surroundingly engages the end of the torsion bar. The bushing is connected on its inner periphery as at I09 so as to be drivingly connected to the splines I05'on the end of the torsion bar 83. The bushing I01 has a laterally extending flange III, as shown best by Fig. 9, which when the bushing is inserted in the aperture 9| abuts against the outer face of the bracket flange 40. An elongated aperture H3 is provided adjacent the lower end of the flange III for use which will be hereinafter brought out. 7 Below the aperture 9| in the bracket flange 45, the flange has a threaded recess II5 extending inwardly from the outer face thereof and an aperture II1 the inner end'of the recess H5 and passes inwardly through the remainder of the wall of the bracket flange. An adjusting memberv generally indicated at I 2| has a threaded cylindrical portion I23 in threaded engagement with the inner periphery of the threaded recess H5. The adlusting member I2I has a reduced neck portion I25 which extends inwardly of the cylindrical portion I23 and which projects-through and is bracket flange 45. The outer end of this reduced neck portion I25 is threaded to receive a lock nut I21. Outwardly of the lock nut I21, the reduced neck I2! is formed with a rectangularly shaped 75 end I20 to receive a wrench for actuating the adof a smaller diameter which communicates with Journaled in the aperture H1 in the wall of the justing member. Projecting outwardly from the outer end of the cylindrical portion I23 into the aperture H3 in the bushing flange III is a pin I3I' which is located on the adjusting member I2I eccentric to the longitudinal axis thereof. Thus, it will be seen that by loosening the lock nut I29 on the reduced neck I of the adjusting member IZI and by applying a wrench to the rectangular end projecting outwardly beyond the lock nut, the adjusting member can be rotated within the threaded recess II5. when this is done, the eccentric pin I3I which projects into the elongated aperture H3 in the bushing flange will rotate and will cause the bushing II" to be rotated in the aperture 9| of the bracket flange 45. This rotation of the bushing IIII will likewise cause rotation of the splined end I85 of the torsion bar 83, and thus will allow adjustment of the spring value of the torsion bar 83. After this adjustment has been obtained, and set, the lock nut I 29 can be jammed against the end of the inner face of the bracket flange 45 and due to the threads on the cylindrical portion I23 will lock the adjusting member against rotation and fixedly position the splined end I05 of the torsion bar 83 in the bracket flange 45.

In order to prevent axial movement of the torsion bar the splined end I85 of the torsion bar has an annular groove I3I therein adjacent the outer end thereof. The wall of the bushing III'I has a slotted aperture I33 therethrough which is aligned with the annular groove I3I in the torsion bar. The bracket flange 45 has a threaded aperture I35 therein which is aligned with the groove in the torsion bar and the slotted aperture in the bushing. A screw I 31 is threaded into the aperture I35 and passes through the slotted aperture I33 in the bushing and is seated in the annular groove I3l in the torsion bar. In this way the torsion bar cannot be axially moved but due to the slotted aperture I33 in the bushing, the bushing can still be rotated by the adjusting member I2I when it is desired to change the spring value of the torsion bar'.

The opposite end of the torsion bar 83, from the adjustably fixed end, is connected to the bracket 51 in the same manner as is the splined end 8| of the torsion bar I9. That is, the hollow housing portion Ila of the wheel mounting member 63 is rotatably connected to the bracket 51 in the same manner as was the end of the hollow housing portion II of the wheel mounting member 6|. The opposite end of the torsion bar I9 from the rotatively mounted splined end 8| is connected to the bracket 5! in a similar manner as was the splined end I05 of the torsion bar 83. That is, it is adjustably fixed in the bracket 51.

The inner end of the hollow housing portion II of the wheel mounting member 6| is mounted rotatably in the bracket 49 in a similar manner to the mounting of the outer end of the housing II in the bracket 45. However the torsion bar I9 passes freely through the hollow housing portion at its inner end. That is, a sleeve l38 corresponding to the sleeve 95 on the outer end of the housing II surrounds and acts as a journal for the end of the housing II. A rubber bushi I39 similar to the rubber bushing 99 on the outer end is positioned in an aperture I40 in the flange of the bracket 5! similar to the aperture 89 in the bracket flange 45. The rubber bushing I 39 is held in place at its outer end by a vertical flange I on the sleeve I38 and at its inner end by a spacer ring I43, a washer I45, and a lock nut I" all similar to corresponding parts at the opposite or outer end on the bracket flange 45. The inner end of the hollow housing portion Ila of the wheel mounting member 83 is mounted in the flange of the bracket 53 in a manner identical with the inner end of the opposite hollow housing portion in the bracket 49.

It will thus be seen, that each torsion bar is rotatably mounted at the end which engages the wheel mounting member so as to allow rotation of the wheel mounting member at that end, while at the other end, the torsion bar is fixedly connected to a bracket on the opposite side of the frame and adjustable therein.

I claim:

1. In a wheel suspension for a vehicle, a frame including longitudinal beams on opposite sides thereof, a transverse tubular member secured to and extending outwardly beyond said longitudinal beams, spaced bracket mounting means secured to said tubular member and said frame beams, brackets rigidly connected to each of said bracket-mounting means, a pair of transversely disposed wheel mounting members rotatably con.. nected to said brackets, and a torsion bar for each of said wheel mounting members fixedly connected at one end to one of said wheel mounting members and at the opposite end thereof to one of said brackets which carries the other of said wheel mounting members.

2. In a wheel suspension for a vehicle, a torsion bar, means mounting one end of said torsion bar to permit free rotation thereof about its longitudinal axis as to said end, an apertured stationary bracket in spaced relation to said torsion bar end, the opposite end of said torsion bar being positioned in said bracket aperture, a bushing rotatably mounted in said aperture and connected to said torsion bar end, a flange projecting laterally from said bushing and having an elongated aperture therethrough, a torsion bar adjusting member threadably mounted in said bracket adjacent said torsion bar aperture, a pin eccentric to the longitudinal axis of said adjusting member projecting outwardly therefrom into said bushing flange aperture, means on the opposite end of said adjusting member for turning the same, and means for locking said adjusting member against rotation to fixedly mount said torsion bar end to said bracket in an adjustable position.

3. In a wheel suspension for a vehicle, a torsion bar, means mounting one end of said bar to permit free rotation thereof about its longitudinal axis at said end, an apertured stationarybracket spaced from said torsion bar end, the opposite end of said torsion bar being positioned in said aperture, a bushing rotatably mounted in said aperture and connectedly supporting said torsion bar end, a laterally projecting fiange on said bushing, a torsion bar adjusting member rotatably mounted in said bracket adjacent said torsion bar end, cam means on one end of said adjusting member projecting outwardly therefrom and connected to said bushing flange, means on the opposite end of said adjusting member for actuating the same, means locking said adjusting member to said bracket in an adjusted position, said bracket having a threaded aperture therein communicating with and nor-' mal to said torsion bar aperture, said bushing having a slotted aperture therein aligned with said bracket threaded aperture, said torsion bar end having an annular groove therein aligned.

with said bracket threaded aperture and said bushing slotted aperture, and means threaded in said threaded aperture and engaging said torsion bar groove to prevent axial movement of said torsion bar. 7

4. An apertured bracket for use in a torsion bar type wheel suspension for a vehicle, including a bushing adapted to rotatably fit in an aperture in said bracket, a laterally extending flange on said bushing having an elongated aperture therein, means formed on the inner periphery of said bushing adapted to engage the end of a torsion bar, an adjusting member rotatably mounted in said bracket, a pin projecting outwardly from said member into said bushing flange aperture, said pin being located eccentric to the axis of said adjusting member, means on the opposite end of said adjusting member for actuating the same, and means on said adjusting member for locking the same against rotation to fixedly mount said bushing in said bracket aperture.

5. Means for suspending a pair of wheels, comprising a first pair of spaced brackets and a second pair of spaced brackets in spaced relation to said first pair of brackets, first and second wheel mounting members, means formed in each of said brackets for rotatably supporting said wheel mounting members, first and second torsion bars, means formed in said first mounting member engaginglysupporting one end of said first torsion bar, means formed in said second mounting member for engagingly supporting one end of said second torsion bar, the outermost of said first pair of brackets being so constructed as to fixedly mount the opposite end of said second bar and the outermost bracket of said second pair of brackets being so constructed as to fixedly mount the opposite end of said first bar, cam means mounted in each of said outermost brackets for adjusta-biy fixing the rotative position of said first and second bars about their axes, respectively, to adjustably setthe spring value of said bars at their respective opposite ends and means mounted in each of said outermost brackets to prevent axial movement of said torsion bars in relation to said brackets.

6. Means for suspending a pair of wheels comprising a first pair of spaced brackets and a second pair of spaced brackets, first and second wheel mounting members, means formed in each of said brackets for rotatably supporting said wheel mounting members, means formed in said first mounting member engagingly supporting one end of said first torsion bar, means formed in said second mounting member for engagingly supporting one end of said second torsion bar, the outermost of said first pair of brackets having an aperture therein adapted to receive the opposite end of said second bar and the outermost of said second pair of brackets having an aperture therein adapted to receive the opposite end of said first bar, a bushing rotatably mounted in each of said apertures and connectedly supporting said respective torsion bar ends, a laterally projecting flange formed on each of said bushings, a torsion bar adjusting member rotatably mounted in each of said brackets adjacent said torsion bar end, cam means on one end of said adjusting member projecting outwardly therefrom and connected to said bushing flange, means on the opposite end of said adjusting member for actuating the same, and means locking each of said adjusting members to their respec-.

tive brackets in an adjusted position.

7. An apertured bracket for use in a torsion bar type wheel suspension for a vehicle, including a bushing adapted to rotatably fit in an aperture in said bracket, a laterally extending flange on said bracket having an elongated aperture therein, means formed on the inner periphery of said bushing adapted to engage the end of a torsion bar, an adjusting member rotatably mounted in said bracket, a pin projecting outwardly from said member into said bushing flange aperture, said pin being locatedeccentric to the axis of said adjusting member, means on the opposite end of said adjusting member for actuating the same, means on said adjusting member for locking the same against rotation to fixedly mount said bushing in said bracket aperture, said bracket having a threaded aperture therein communicating with said bushing aperture and extending normally therefrom, and means mounted in said threaded aperture engaging said torsion bar to prevent axial movement of the torsion bar with respect to said bracket.

8. Means for suspending a pair of wheels comprising a first pair of spaced brackets and a second pair of spaced brackets in spaced relation to said first pair of spaced brackets, first and second wheel mounting members, means formedin' each of said brackets for rotatably supporting said wheel mounting members, means formed in said first mounting member engagingly supporting one end of said first torsion bar, means formed in said second mounting member for engagingly supporting one end of said second torsion bar, the outermost of said first pair of brackets having an aperture therein adapted to receive the opposite end of said second bar, and the outermost of said second pair of brackets having an aperture therein adapted to receive the opposite end of said first bar, a bushing rotatably mounted in each of said apertures and connectedly supporting said respective torsion bar ends, a laterally projecting flange formed on said bushing, a torsion bar adjusting member rotatably mounted in each of said brackets adjacent said torsion bar end, cam means on one end of said adjusting member projecting outwardly therefrom and connected to said bushing flange, means on the opposite end of said adjusting member for actuating the same, means locking each of said adjusting members to their respective brackets in an adjusted position, each of said brackets having a threaded aperture therein communicating with and normal to said torsion bar aperture, each of said bushings having a slotted aperture therein aligned with said threaded aperture, each of said torsion bar ends having an annular groove therein aligned with said bracket threaded aperture and said bushing slotted aperture, and means threaded in each of said threaded apertures and engaging each of said torsion bar apertures to prevent axial movement of each of said torsion bars.

HENRY C. McCASLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Fageol Mar. 28, 1944 

